Thursday, July 30, 2009

I realize I haven't made any new posts recently, but my camera has been down and the store that I purchased it from is taking their sweet time replacing it. It was promised back a week ago, but they are changing their original return date.

However, here is some new information about places NOT to go paddling, so don't waste a trip going to these two locations.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

After trying a couple of new venues in the last week I had to go back to one of my favorite places to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. It was a beautiful day to catch some rays and take a ton of pictures. Enjoy!

Also check out the 4-sections of photos from my last trip to Mahoning Creek Lake on (June 26, 2009).

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The Saltsburg area is a hotbed for paddlers with such waterways as the Conemaugh River, Kiskiminetas River, and Loyalhanna Creek all in close proximity. However, I'm taking the Conemaugh River off the list as I found my afternoon on the water extremely frustrating.

Granted most people enjoy this section of water by lazily floating downstream and taking in the view, but I enjoy the paddling part of kayaking so in my attempt to go upstream I found nothing but obstacle after obstacle, mainly shallow rapids that made digging into the water impossible. After nearly breaking my paddle a number of times over a few hidden boulders I cut my trip short and most likely won't return to this section of the river.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

There are a handful of free and very accessible places to launch a kayak besides the main launch site at Quemahoning Recreation Area, so keep that in mind if you head to Somerset County.

The water is quite calm on the reservoir and the scenery is beautiful, but unfortunately there isn't a lot of wildlife visible on the water mostly because of the influx of tourist that frequent the area during the summer months.

Even so the trip is still worth the occasional paddle as you can quickly amass 10-miles if you stick to the shoreline. If you feel a little adventurous head to the Southeast part of the reservoir and limbo underneath the Green Bridge. Even though there is only 18-20 inches of clearance it is worth the effort as this remote location has some of the best scenery.

Credentials:

I have been kayaking for three years and my adventures have taken me to some of the most amazing destinations this country has to offer: Arizona (Pics 1, 2), Utah (Pics 1, 2, 3, 4), Colorado (Pics 1, 2, 3, 4), Virginia, Maryland, and my home state of Pennsylvania.

As far as this blog... It was created to assist anybody looking for some interesting places to go kayaking in the Keystone state.

I will include pictures and maps whenever feasible.

Thanks

About Me: "Crocky"

Quote: Mark Twain

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."